Thermostatic valve device for radiator shutters, etc.



June 23, 1925. f 1,543,333

F. JARVING THERMOSTATIC VALVE DEVICE FOR RADIATOR SHUTTERS, ETC

Filed Dec. 31, 1924 I WTW 172%; 9 ire/7% JZ/wy Patented June 23, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK J. IRVING, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 PINES WIN TERFRONTCOM- PANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARETHEB-MOSTA'IIC VALVE DEVICE FOR RADIATOR SHUTTEBS, ETC.

Application filed December 31, 1924. Serial No. 758,976.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, FRAXK J. Invrno, a citizen of the 'United States,and residentof Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thermostatic Yalve.Devices for Radiator Shutters, Etc, .of which the following is a full.clear. concise, and exact description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a new and improved thermostatic valve devicewhich has for its principal field of utility the control of suction orpressure operated radiator shutters for automobiles. This type ofradiatorshutter generally utilizes manifold suction for its operation,although it may utilize other fluid suction or pressure, and the presentthermostatic valve device has particular application to such shuttersfor controlling this fluid suction or pressure.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a thermostatic valvedevice having an improved manner of adjustment for adjusting the devicefor operation at different temperatures. This adjustment is very simpleto set and is relatively foolproof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a thermostatic valvedevice which will have an improved method of attachment to the waterconduit connecting the radiator and the engine whereby it can be mountedvery quickly and is readily adjustable and adaptable to mounting onconduits of different sizes and at different angles and locations onthese conduits. This is of considerable advantage in that it provides afiting which is universally applicable to all water cooled cars.

Another object is to provide a thermostatic valve device in which thenumber of 'moving parts has been reduced to a minimum, and which is verysimple and inexpensive to construct.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment of myinvention:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view showing the radiator, engine. waterconduit, etc., of

a typical motor car installation, the shutter being illustrateddiagrammatically in section; 0

Figure 2 is a longitudinal. sectional view through the thermostaticvalve device;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the same; F lgure 4 is an enlarged transversesectional view through the valve housing, and

Figure 5 is a similar view showing the valve in open position.

In Fig. 1 the engine of an automobile power plant is indicated at 8, theradiator for the cooling circuit at 9, and the upper water conduit forconnecting the two at 11.

In installing the present automatic shutter mechanism, the shutterattachment 12, comprising the pivoted shutters and operating cylinder ismounted on the face of the radiator in any suitable manner.

The series of pivoted shutters 13 are all operatively connected througha link 1% which is responsive to the application of suction to theoperating chamber 15. This operating chamber may consist of any desiredform of expansible and contractible chamber, of either the piston,diaphragm, or sylphon type, although it generally consists of aconventional cylinder and piston. Suitable spring means is arrangednormally to close the shutters, this spring means being overcome by theoperating cylinder 15 upon the application of suction thereto. Thissuction is drawn from the intake manifold 16 through suction tubes 17and 18, the former extending from the manifold to the thermostatic valveunit, and the latter extending from this thermostatic valve unitto theoperating cylinder 15.

This thermostatic valve unit is adapted to be mounted at any desiredpoint on the upper water conduit 11, as shown in Fig. 1. This is thepreferred location for the valve unit inasmuch as this conduit firstreceives the heated water from the engine 8, but it is conceivable thatthe valve unit might be mounted on the lower water condu1t conmeetingthe bottom of the radiator with the engine or pump.

This thermostatic valve unit comprises thermostatic strip metal 22. Atongue 25 extends from the other end of the plate 21 for mounting thedevice on the water con- This tongue is of arcuate cross section toengage snugly over the cylindrical contour of the water conduit-l Aclamp 26, either of one-piece or two-piece construction, clamps thetongue 25 to the conduit, with the thermostatic strip 22 extendinglengthwise of the conduit and in close proximity thereto .for readyabsorption of heat. If the hood orany other adjacent parts of the carshould form an obstruction to the mounting of the thermostatic valveunit on the top of the water conduit, itcan be shifted down to aposition along the side of the water conduit. or even under the same, ifnecessary. Likewise, because of the one point attachment, thisthermostatic valve device can be secured to a bowed or curved length ofwater conduit; and it may be supported in any inclined, or even avertical, position without binding of the parts. This readily adapts theunit touniversal mounting on practically all water-cooled cars.

The plate 21 is composed of aluminum and thus acts as a ready conductorof heat from the water conduit to the thermostatic strip. This strip 22is of any suitable bimetallic construction, being secured to the plate21 at its front end by a rivet 28. This .point of attachment ispreferably upon a raised hump 29 punched up from the under side of theplate 21, whereby the opposite end of the strip is supported above theplate 21 in position for free flexure. Supported above this free end ofthe thermostatic strip is the valve housing .31. The plate 21 is formedwith an upwardly turned extension 32, the front face of whichis providedwith a series of transverse ridges or corrugations 33 which are adaptedto match similar ridges or corrugations 34 in the rear face of the valvehousing, These ridges are held in matched engagement by a thumb screw35, the threaded shank 35' of which extends through a vertical slot 36in the supporting extension 32 and has threaded engagement in the valvehousing 31. By releasing the clamping pressure imposed through thisscrew, the valve housing can bev raised or lowered and matched withdifferent teeth 33 in adjusting the device for difierent workingtemperatures, all as I shall hereinafter describe. Narrow lateralflanges 37 extend from the sides of the supporting extension 32 andform, in efiect, a vertical socket for this valve housing.

This housing @preferably consists of a solid block of metal which isbored out from opposite ends to provide a transverse bore 38. Theoppdsite ends of this bore are threaded for receiving nipples 39 and 41which are screwed fast into the block for providing ready connectingmembers for the tubes 17 and 18. These tubes are pref-- erably insertedinto the ends of the nipples and are held therein by outer grippingsleeves 42.

The valve consists of a ball 43 which isadapted to engage the end of theni ple 39.

The bore in this nipple provides a rig 1t angle valve seat 44 which isadapted to have line contact with the ball valve/43. The other nipple 41may have its end slotted, as indicated at 45, to prevent the ballvalvefrom ever effectively seating against this nipple.

flexure of this thermostatic strip. A small leafspring 52 has one endclamped bet-ween The bottom wall of the bore 38 intermediate the side ofthe block 31 and a shoulder 53, I

on one of the nipples, the lower end of this spring having a hole 54therein receiving the pin and normally tending to thrust the pindownwardly.

"With the water in the cooling system cold and the engine at rest, theradiator shutters 13 will be held closed under the action of the closingspring, as above described. With the starting of the engine, the suctioncreated in the intake manifold will draw the ball valve 43 against thevalve seat 44, thus pre venting the transmission of suction to theoperating cylinder 15 at this time. As the engine warms up and a largeramount of heated water is circulated up through the conduit 11, thetemperature of the thermostatic strip 22 will gradually rise until, at acertain predetermined temperature, it will thrust the pin 48 up againstthe botto1n of the ball valve 43 and force it off of the seat 44 intoapproximately the position shown in Fig. 5. Thereupon the suction willbe transmitted to the, other nipple 41 and through its associated tube18 to the operating cylinder 15, which will operate to open the radiatorshutters. This open condition of the shutters will continue until thetemperature of the cooling system has fallen to a predetermined minimumtemperature, at

which time the downward flexing of. the A 1Q thumb screw 35.

radiator shutters open and close, the same can be accomplished throughthe mere shifting of the valve housing 31. The thumb screw 35 isreleased and the valve housing I is moved upwardly r downwardly a notchor two, depending upon whether the device is to operate at a lower orhigher temperature. and the valve housing is then looked in the setposition by merely tightening the For minor adjustments, the plate 21 isprovided with a hole 56 directly under the thermostatic strip 22, asshown in Fig. 2. By inserting a pencil or pointed instrument up throughthis hole an upward pressure may be exerted in the under side of thethermostatic strip for giving it a slightly higher normal set. Bypressing downwardly on the top of the strip it may be given a lowernormal set.

F or repair to the valve housing or substitution thereof, the thumbscrew is merely withdrawn and the housing removed. It will be noted fromFig. 5 that when the pin 48 is raised to push the ball valve 43 up intoopen position, the tapered portion 51 of'the pin shank is in closeproximity to, or is seating against. the lower end 'of the hole 47,thereby avoidingundesirable venting of atmosphere into the bore 38.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim is:

1. The combination with a radiator shutter having an expansible andcontractible chamber for operating said shutter, of a.

35 thermostatic element, a valve housing enclosing a valve and valveport, said valve controlling a conduit communicating with said chamber.said conduit preventing rotation of said valve housing. means actuatedby said thermostatic element for operating said valve. and means forsupporting said valve housing for adjustment relative to saidthermostatic element 2. In a thermostatic valve device for radiatorshutters. etc.. the combination of a supporting member. a thermostaticelement carried by said supporting element, a valve housing enclosing avalve and valve port, a conduit fixedly attached to said valve housing.means actuated by said thermostatic element for operating said valve,and means permitting adjustment of said valve housing relative to saidsupporting member and to said thermostatic element.

65 all adjustmentsof said housin 4. In a thermostatic valve device forradiator shutters and the like, the combination of a supporting memberadapted to be mounted on some portion of the car comprising part of thecooling system, a valve housing carried by said supporting member, avalve completely enclosed in said valve housing, thermally responsivemeans for actuating the valve in said'valve housing, and meansadjustably supporting said valve housing on said supporting memberwhereby the temperature limits for said valve may be shifted byadjusting the position of said valve housing on said supporting member.

5. In a radiator shutter of the type wherein the shutters arefluid-pressure operated and thermostatically controlled, a supportingmember. thermally responsive means carried by said supporting member. avalve port, a valve controlling said port under the control of saidthermally responsive means. and means for shifting the relative positionof said valve and said supporting member.

6. In a radiator shutter of the type wherein the shutteres arefluid-pressure operated and thermostatically controlled, a supportingmember. thermally responsive means carried by said supporting member. avalve port. a valve controlling said port under the control of saidthermally responsive means, and means for shifting the relative positionof said valve port and said supporting member. I

7. In a radiator shutter of the type wherein the shutters arefluid-pressure operated and thermostatically controlled, a supportingmember. thermally responsive means carried by said supporting member, avalve port, a valve controlling said port under the cont-r01 of saidthermally responsive means, and means for shifting the relative positionof said valve port and said thermally responsive means.

8. In a thermostatic valve device for radiator shutters and the like.the combination of a plate, a thermostatic strip secured to said plate,a valve housing carried by said plate having a valve and valve porttherein, and means adjustably supporting said valve housing permittingadjustmentthereof relative to said thermostatic strip.

9. In a radiator slmtter of the type where in the shutters arefluid-pressure operated 3 In a thermostatic valve device for radi andthermostatically controlled, a thermoated and thermostaticallycontrolled, a thermostatic valve unit therefor comprising a mountingmember, a supporting surface projecting therefrom having a plurality ofprojections thereon, a valve housing having projections thereon adaptedto interengage with the projection on said supporting surface, and meansfor holding said projections in engaging relation.

11. In a radiator shutter of the type wherein the shutters arefluid-pressure operated and thermostatically controlled, a thermostaticvalve unit therefor comprising a supporting member, a supporting walldisposed at an angle to said supporting member, a thermally responsiveelement carried by said supporting member, a valve housing carried bysaid supportingwall, said housing and said wall having cooperatingserrations in their opposing faces, and a thumb screw for holding saidserrations in engagement, said thumb screw engaging in a slot in saidsupporting wall.

12. In a radiator shutter attachment of thetype wherein the shutters arefluid-pressure operated and thermostatically controlled, a thermostaticvalve unit comprising a valve housing, a passageway in said housing, aball valve adapted to seat against said port, and a pin entering aidpassageway from theside thereof and operative to push said balllaterally from said valve seat.

13. In a radiator shutter mechanism of the type wherein the shutters arefluidpressure operated and thermostatically confor comprising a valvehousing, a passageway in said housing, a valve port in said passageway,a valve adapted to seat against said port, a bore entering saidpassageway laterally, a pin in said bore operative to push said ballvalve laterally from said seat, and thermally responsive means foractuating said pin.

ll. In a radiator shutter mechanism of the type wherein the shutters arefluid-pressure operated and thermostatically controlled, a thermostaticvalve unit therefor comprising a valve housing, a passageway in saidhousing, a valve port in said passageway, a valve adapted to seatagainst said port, a bore entering said passageway laterally.

a pin in said bore operative to move saidv valve, and means for closingsaid bore when said pin is'at one limit of its operating movement.

15. In a radiator shutter mechanism of the type wherein the shutters arefluid-pressure operated andvthermostatically controlled, a thermostaticvalve unit therefor comprising a valve housing, a passageway in saidhousing, a valve port in said passageway, a valve adapted to seatagainst said port, a bore entering said passa 'eway laterally, a pinloosely fitting in said bore and operative by thrusting movement to movesaid valve, and means for closing said bore when said pin has beenthrust inwardly.

' 16. In a radiator shutter attachment of the type wherein the shuttersare fluid-pressure operated and thermostatically controlled, athermostatic valve unit therefor thermostatic valve unit thereforcomprising a valve housing, a passageway in said housing, a nipplescrewed into said passageway, the end of said nipple defining a valveseat, a ball valve in said passageway adapted to engage said seat, abore communicating with said passageway laterally thereof, a pin looselyfitting in said bore, and operating by thrusting movement to displacesaid ball valve laterally from said valve seat. a thermally responsivedevice for actuating said pin, a seating portion adjacent the outer endof said pin adapted to 010% said bore when said pin has been thrustinwardly. and a leaf spring secured to said valve housing and engagingthe outer end of said valve trolled and a thermostatic valve unit there-18. In a radiator shutter attachment of the type wherein the shuttersare fluid-pres sure operated and thermostatically con trolled, athermostatic valve unit therefor comprising a plate, lateral flanges onsaid plate defining a channel formation therein, a. thermostatic stripsecured to said plate and disposed in said channel formation, and avalve housing supported by said plate and comprising a valve adapted tobe controlled by said thermostatic strip.

19. In a radiator shutter attachment of the type wherein the shuttersare fluid-pressure operated and thermostatically controlled, athermostatic valve unit therefor compris ing a plate, lateral flangesadjacent one end of said plate defining a channel formation, an upturnedsupporting wall adjacent said flanges, a mounting tongue dj an sponsiveto said thermostatic strip, and means for clamping said mounting tongueto the water conduit (if the cooling system.

20. In a radiator shutter attachment of the type wherein the shuttersare fluid-pressure operated and thermostatically controlled,

a thermostatic valve unit therefor comprising a plate, a thermallyresponsive member carried by said plate, a valve housing carried by saidplate having a valve therein adapted to be controlled by said thermallyresponsive member, a clamping portion projecting from said plate adaptedto engage the Water conduit of the cooling system, and a clampencircling said conduit and said clamping portion.

21. In a radiator shutter attachment of the type wherein the shuttersare fluid-pressure operated and thermostatically controlled, athermostatic valve unit therefor comprising a su-ppprting member, athermostatic 010- 15 ment carried by said supporting member, a valvehousing comprising a -valve'p0rt and a valve controlling said port, anda valve actuating member separate from said thermostatic element andfrom said valve for 20 operatively connecting said thermostatic elementand said valve.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 16 day ofDecember, 1924. FRANK J. IRVING. Witnesses:

H. KLEIN,-

FRED A. MCDONALD.

